First Alan Wake DLC free with new purchase

Electronic Arts popularized the trend of encouraging new-game sales with free downloadable content, and the latest practitioner will be Xbox 360 maker Microsoft. Alan Wake will make its long-awaited debut exclusively on the Xbox 360 on May 18 in the US, and Microsoft said today that new copies of the game will include a token to receive its first add-on free of charge.

Microsoft offered no clues as to what gamers can expect from Alan Wake's first add-on, saying only that it would be available later this year. The publisher also didn't indicate how much the downloadable content will cost for those who opt to pick up a used copy of the game. Microsoft had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

Alan Wake is Remedy's first game since 2003's Max Payne 2 and follows writer Alan Wake as he retreats to the sleepy town of Bright Falls. Set in the small Northwestern town of Bright Falls, the psychological thriller pits Wake against a mysterious darkness afflicting the townsfolk, turning them into nightmarish specters. The only way to break through an enemy's darkness shield is with light, and gameplay focuses on fighting off ghostly foes with flashlights, flares, and other dark-dispelling tools.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Alan Wake.